Controlling mechanism.



E. E. WINKLEY.

GONTROLLING MBGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1912.

FU. l 0u 1 Qu: 2 b. 8 F d 8 LIU n 6 LIU ha P 4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

*HE NORRIS PETERS Ca. PHGTO-LITHO..WA5HINGTUN, Dv C( E. E. WINKLEY.

CONTROLLING MEGHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 12, 1912.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

4 3. 74 SHEETS SHEET NURRIS PETERS C0., FHOTOYLITHL` A WASHINGTON. D. C.

E. E. WINKLEY.

CONTROLLING MEGHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 12, 1912.

l 9 1 @y l l Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

y 4L l IHIII I ERASTUS E. VTINKLEY, 0F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

Maasai.

Specification of Letters Patent.

CONTROLLING IVIECI-IANISIVL Patented Feb., 23, 1915..

Application led June 12, 1912. Serial No. 703,177.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that l, ERAsTUs E. WINKLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controlling Mechanism; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to mechanism for controlling the position, movement or operation of an operative part or mechanism of a mac ine or apparatus, and more particularly to mechanism by which such part or mechanism may be automatically controlled.

The object of the invention is to provide a controlling mechanism of this character having a novel and improved construction whereby the control of the part or mechanism affected may be secured in a uniformly reliable manner.

ln accordance with the present invention the position, movement or operation of the operative part or mechanism of the machine is determined or controlled by a roll which engages the periphery of a rotating` drum or some similar traveling surface and which is caused to travel laterally to a greater or less degree by automatically varying its angle to the direction of travel of the surface of the drum. rlhe angle of the roll may be and, in embodying the invention in various types of machines, preferably is controlled and determined by a controller linger or feeder arranged to engage a form, the form and feeler being relatively movable so that the feeler acts along the form. The engagement of the finger or feeler with the form determines the angle and, consequently, the extent and rate of lateral travel of the roll and this travel, through suitable connecting devices, varies the position, movement or operation of the part or mechanism to be controlled.

The features of the invention will be understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the mechanism illustrated therein.

ln the drawings the invention is illustrated as embodied in a mechanism for so controlling a cutter head that it will travel about a form and A'that the cutter head will be maintained in proper relation to the direction of travel of the head. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not confined in its application to such a machine but may be embodied in other types of machines and may be utilized to control parts or mechanism of various machines.

The specific construction of the mechanism through which the control is rendered automatic will be varied or modified to suit the machine in which the invention is embodied.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of so much of a machine for cutting rubber soles as is required to illustrate the application of the present invention thereto; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the rear part of the mechanism shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detailed elevation showing the parts engaging the form which determines the shape of the sole cut; Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail elevation partly in section showing a cutter carrying head; Fig. 7 is a detail view of the feed roll carrying slide which is mounted on the cutter head; and Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of certain parts shown in Fig. 2.

In the machine shown in the drawings the' sheet of rubber compound from which the sole is to be cut is supported upon a table 1 and the form 2 which determines the shape of the sole is supported upon an arm 3 above the table. The cutter carrying head comprises a block 4 which carries a cutter blade 5 and a feed wheel 6 for engaging the stock on the table and causing a travel of the head and cutter. The lower end of the block 4 is provided with segmental bearing surfaces, one of which is indicated at 7, which are embraced bv a bearing S formed at the front end of a supporting arm 9. The block is held against upward movement in the bearing by a plate l0 secured to the lower end of the block and engaging the under surface of the bearing 8. rlhe cutter carrying head is also provided with a shaft l1 which extends through bearings 12 and 13 on the arm 9 and has its lowerend secured in a socket in the block 4. The upper end of the shaft is provided with a finger 14 adapted to engage the periphery of the pattern 2, and having its engaging face located in the axis of the cutter head. 'In order that the cutter head may be free to move bodily in any direction over thework supporting table, the support-'- ing arm 9 is pivotally supported at its real end upon a shaft 15 mounted in bearings in the front end of a second arm 16. The rear end of the arm 16 is in turn pivotally sup ported to turn about a shaft 17.

The knife 5 is secured to a vertical slide 18 and is held in engagement with the table 1 by a spring pressed pin 19 engaging a boss formed on the slide. The feed wheel 6 is mounted in a vertical slide 20 and is forced continually against the stock upon the table 1 during the cutting by a spring 21 engaging a lug 22 on the slide. The wheel is rotated to feed the cutter head along the stockfthrough a pinion 23 formed on the lowerend of a sleeve which surrounds the shaft 11 and is mounted to turn within the bearing 13. This pinion engages a pinion 24 secured to the upper end of the shaft 25, the lower end of which carries a worm 26 engaging a worm wheel 27 which is connected through gearing 23 with the feed wheel.

To the upper end of the sleeve-on which the pinion 23 is-formed, a sprocket wheel 29 issecured, and this wheel is driven through a chain 30 passing over it and over a similar sprocket Wheel 31 loosely mounted on the shaft 15. The sprocket wheel 31 is con- 30 \nected with a second sprocket wheel 32 whichfis driven through a chain 33 passing over it and over a similar sprocket wheel 34 loosely mounted on the shaft 17. The sprocket wheel 34 is formed on the hub of a bevel gear 35 which is engaged by a similar gea-r 36'connected with a spur gear 37. The gear 37 is engaged by a gear 33secured to one end'of a shaft 39 which is continuously driven during the cutting operation. Through this driving mechanism the feed wheel is continuously rotated to cause the cutterl head and cutter to travel alongv the stock supported upon the table 1.

Tn order that the path of travel of the cutter may correspond to the outline of the pattern 2, and that the knife blade may eX- tend in the direction of the feed, the angular position of the cutterhead should be so varied during its travel that the feed wheel will cause the finger 14 to travel along the periphery ofthe pattern. The proper variation in the angular position of the cutter head to secure this result is effected in the machine illustrated by controlling mechanism embodying the various features of the present invention. This mechanism is constructed and arranged to automatically turn the cutter head in its bearingsin accordance with the curvature of that part of the form along which the linger 14 may be traveling. The turning of the cutter head to determine the path of travel of the cutter and feed wheel is effected through beveled gears40 connecting the shaft 11 of the cutter head with a shaft mounted on the arm 22 which is in turn connected by beveled gears 41 with the shaft 15. The lower end of the shaft 15 is connected by beveled gears 42 with a shaft 43 mounted on the arm 16, and this shaft is connected through beveled gears 44 with the shaft 17. Through this mechanism, movements imparted to the shaft 17 are transmitted to the cutter head to vary its angular position and thus control the direction of its travel.

The mechanism for imparting the turning movements to the shaft 17 and connected. cutter head embodies important features of the present invention which enable the proper turning movements to be quickly and accurately given while the head is traveling rapidly over the stock. This mechanism comprises a continuously rotating drum 45 the periphery of which is engaged by one or more rolls 46. Tn the construction shown there are two rolls which are connected to operate in unison, a plurality of rolls being used to give additional power to the actuating mechanism. The rolls are supported in a carriage 47 which is so mounted that it may move longitudinally of the drum 45, and the rolls are so mounted that they may be turned to vary the angle of the rolls with relation to the direction of travel of the surface of the drum. So long as the aXes of the rolls are parallel to the axis of the drum there will be no longitudinal movement of the carriage 47. If the rolls are turned in either direction so that their axes are at an angle to the axis of the drum, then the rolls will tend to travel longitudinally of the drum and will move the carriage 47 in one direction or the other according to the direction in which the rolls are turned, and the rate of movement in either direction will depend upon the angular position of the rolls. The travel of the rolls and carriage will cease as soon as the rolls are returned to the position in which their aXes are parallel to the axis of the drum. The carriage 47 is connected with the shaft 17 so that the shaft is turned by the travel of the carriage. The connections between the carriage and shaft comprise a rack 48 mounted to slide on a rod 49 and provided with a vertically extending arm 50, the upper end of which is provided with a slot 51 engaged by a pin 52 on the carriage. The rack engages a gear 53 loosely mounted on the shaft 17 and connected with a disk 54 which forms one member of a double acting Horton clutch. The other member of the clutch consists of a ring 55 connected with a hub 56 which surrounds the shaft 17. The hub 56 is also provided with arms 57 upon which the bell crank levers 58 are pivoted. The upper ends of the bell crank levers are arranged to pass between two pairs of gripping rolls 59 which are mounted in the ring 55 on opposite sides of the disk 54. The lower ends ofthe levers eXtend into a slot in the shaft 17 and are engaged by the upper end of a rod 60 arranged to slide within the shaft and supported upon an actuating lever 61. During the 4cutting operation the bell crank levers 58 are in the position indicated in Fig. 2, and when in such position the clutch rolls are free and connect the memebrs of the clutch so that the shaft 17 is turned in one direction or the other according to the direction in which the carriage 47 and rack 48 are moved.

The carriage 47 is mounted upon rods 62 and carries anti-friction rolls 63 which are held in engagement with the under sides of the rods by the pressure of the rolls 46 against the periphery of the drum 45. Each roll is mounted in a yoke 64 secured to the lower end of a shaft 65. The upper part of the yoke is provided with a collar 66 mounted in a bearing 67 and grooved to receive a series of anti-friction balls. Near its upper end each shaft 65 is supported in a ball bearing indicated at 68 which is mounted in the upper plate 69 of a housin 70 secured to the carriage 47. A plate 1 overlies the bearing 68, and the bearing is held against the plate by a sleeve 72 surrounding the shaft 65 and supported upon a spring 73. The upper end of the shafts 65 are engaged by screws 74 mounted in a yoke 75 which is pivoted upon the housing 70. By adjusting these screws the rolls may be forced against the periphery of the drum 45 with the required pressure. Each shaft is provided at its upper end with a projecting arm 7 6, and these arms are connected by a link 77 so that the rolls will be turned in unison to vary their angular relation to the drum. One of the arms 76 is provided with a depending pin 78 which passes through a hole formed in a lever 7 9 the hub of which surrounds the sleeve 72 and is supported upon a flange at the bottom of the sleeve. By turning this lever the angular position of the rolls may be varied to cause them to rotate idly in contact with the drum, or to cause them to travel longitudinally in either direction and thus turn the cutter head to vary or control its path of travel.

In order that the path of travel of the cutter may correspond to the outline of the pattern 2, the cutter' head should be so turned during its travel that the feed wheel will cause the linger 14 to travel along the periphery of the pattern. In the construction shown theturning of the cutter head is automatically controlled to secure this result by controlling the angle of the rolls 46 by a controller linger 8O which is arranged to engage the periphery of the pattern in advance of the finger 14. rl`he controller finger is in the form of a lever pivoted on the upper end of the shaft 11 and having its lower end arranged to engage a lever 81 also pivoted to the upper end of the shaft. The free end of the lever 81 engages the upper end of a sleeve 82 which is mounted to slide and turn freely 'upon the shaft 11 and is provided with a flange 83 engaging the front end of a lever 84. The lever 84 is supported upon the arm 9 and its rear end engages the front end of a lever 85 supported upon the arm 16. The rear end of the lever 85 is connected by a link 86 with an arm 87 which projects from a rock shaft 88. The rock shaft is supported upon suitable centers and is provided with rearwardly projecting arms 89 carrying a grooved bar 90. rlhe groove in the bar 90 is engaged by a roll 91 adjustably secured to the horizontal arm of a bell crank lever 92 which is pivoted on the roll carriage 47. The vertical arm 93 of the bell crank lever is provided at its upper end with a gear segment 94 engaging a corresponding gear segment 95 on the end of the roll operating lever 79. The rock shaft 88 is forced yieldingly in a direction to force the controller linger 8O forward against the periphery of the pattern 2 by a light spring 96.

The parts are so arranged that the rolls will be held in neutral position when the controller finger 80 and the gage finger 14 are in line with each other in the direction. of the travel of the cutter head, and so long as this condition exists the cutter head will travel in a straight line. lf the controller finger 8O moves forward or back out of line with thegage finger 14 by reason of the curvature of the pattern, then the rolls will be turned through the connections described at an angle to the direction of travel of the drum 45, the extent to which they are turned depending upon the curvature of the pattern. This will cause a travel of the rolls and roller carriage longitudinally of 'the drum which will turn the shaft 17 and the connected cutter head so that the feed roll in the head will change the direction of travel of the head to correspond to the curvature of the pattern. rlhe angular position of the cutter head and of the feed roll and knife carried thereby will thus be automatically controlled to cause the cutter to travel in a path corresponding to the contour of the pattern, and to keep the knife blade in proper relation to its line of travel. In the machine shown the cutter head travels around the pattern and in so doing is turned through a complete revolution. lVhen the cutter head has completed its travel about the pattern the rolls will have traveled a certain distance longitudinally of the drum 45, and should be returned to their original position prior to the cutting of the next sole. It is for this reason that the clutch is employed for connecting the rack 48 with the shaft 17. When the rolls are to be returned the lever 61 is operated through any special mechanism to lift the rod 60 and thus disengage the rolls of the Horton clutch so that the clutch member 5l may rotate Without transmitting motion to the shaft 17. This may be accomplished either manually or automatically. rlhe rolls are also turned to cause them to travel along the drum to their initial position, and are then turned into neutral position Vith relation to the drum. rllhese movements may also be effect ed either manually or auton'iatically.

ln the machine shoivn, means are provided for effecting the disengagement of the clutch and the return of the rolls automatically. In this machine the support or frame 97 carrying the cutting head, and the mechanism for operating and controlling it, is given an upvvard movement the end of thecutting operation, and after the cutter head has completed its travel about the pattern. During this upward movement the lever 61 is operated to disengage the clutch bythe action Aof a bell crank lever 08, one end of which carries a roll running against afixed cam 99, and the other end of which is connected to the upper end of a rod 100, the lower end of Which is connected to an arm 101 secured to the rock shaft which carries the lever G1. The upvvard movement of the support also brings the arm 87 against a fixed stop 102 held in position by a spring (not shown), thus rocking the roch` shaft 88 and turning the rolls 4G so that they will travel along the drum to their initial position. As they reach their initial position a projection 103 on the segment arm 93 strikes afiXed pin 10st so that the arm is turned by the travel of the carriage t7 until the rolls are brought into initial position, when the travel of the carriage ceases. rlhe stop 102 yields to allow the arm 93 to turn. When another cutting operation is to benin, the support 97 moves down to rengage the knife and feed roll With the stock, and during this movement the clutch is r-engaged and the arm Si' is moved avvay from the stop 102 and the projection 103 is moved into position below the pin 10a'. The parts are non7 in position to again control the cutter head, feed roll and knife in the manner already described. 'To prevent the cutter head from swinging aivay from the pa tern when the cutter head is raised from the stoel: on the table 1, the upper end of the shaft 11 is provided with a roll 105 arranged to engage the inner surface of a flange formed at the edge of the pattern. rEhe roll is carried on the upper end of an arm 106 pivoted at 10i and held yieldingly against the flange by a spring 108.

lt Will be noted that ivith the construction and arrangement of the actuating and controlling mechanism shoivn and described the mechanism for controlling the cutter head will act to continually change the angular position of the feed roll and direction of travel of the cutter head so long as the con` troller is traveling along a curved contour on the pattern, and that therefore the path of travel of the cutter may be made to accurately conform to the contour of the pattern, or expressed more generically, the controlling mechanism acts to continuously modify the action of the part or mechanism controlled so long as the controller is out of neutral position. rllhis is desirable vvhen the operation of the mechanism or machine in which the invention is embodied admits of such continuous control or correction of the parts affected. lit will be understood, however, that certain features of the invention may be embodied with advantage in machines in which such continuous control or modification is not admissable, and in n'hich it is desirable to etl'ect the control by successive and intermittent movements.

lWhile it is preferred to employ substantially the construction and arrangement of parts shown and described Where such use is admissable, it vvill be understood that this construction and arrangement is not essential, and may be varied and modified \vitliout departing from the invention.

Having explained the nature and object of the invention, and specifically described one form of mechanism in which it may be embodied, What l claim is 1. A controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a traveling driving member, a roll engaging the surface of the driving member, a relatively moving form and controller for controlling the angle of the roll, and mechanism actuated by the transverse travel of the roll.

A controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a rotary drum, a roll engaging the drum, a relatively moving form and controller and connections for controlling the angle of the roll in accordance with the position of the controller, and mechanism actuated by the relative .lateral travel of the roll.

3. A controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a rotary drum, a roll engaging the drinn, a controlling device and connections for holding the roll with its axis parallel to the axis of the drum 'when the controlling de ice is in neutral position and for turning the roll at an angle when the device is moved out of neutral position, and mechanism actuated by the relative lateral travel of the roll tending to restore the controlling device to neutral position.

i. A controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a rotary drum, a carriage mounted to move parallel with the axis of the drum, a roll in the carriage rotating on the drum and means for varying the angle of the roll comprising a form and controller relatively movable to transfer the controller along the form.

5. A controlling mechanism, having, in

combination, a rotary drum, a roll engaging the drum, a head, connections through Which relative lateral travel of the roll turns the head, and a relatively moving form and controller' and connections for controlling the angle of the roll.

6. t controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a rotary drum, a roll engaging the drum, a form and controller relatively movable to 'transfer the controller along the form and connections for controlling` the angle of the roll, and a mechanism and connections through ulrich its action is modified by relative lateral travel of the roll.

'l'. A. controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a rotary drum, a roll engaging the drum, a form and controller relatively movable to transfer' the controller along the form, connections through which the angle of the roll is controlled by the controller, and a head and connections through which relative lateraltravel of the roll shifts the head in accordance With the contour of the form.

8. A controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a rotary drum, a roll engaging the drum, a traveling head, a controller on the head, a form engaged by the controller, connections between the controller and roll for controlling the angle of the roll, and connections between the roll and head through which the travel of the head is controlled by the lateral travel of the roll.

9. A controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a controller movable into and out of neutral position, a form along which the controller acts for determining its position, and mechanism connected With the controller to continuously modify the action of a controlled mechanism so long as the controller is out of neutral position.

10. A controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a controlled mechanism, a controller movable into and out of neutral position, a form along which the controller travels, and mechanism connected with the controller to continuously modify the action of the controlled mechanism so long as the controller is out of neutral position.

1l. ll. controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a form and controller finger movable into and out of neutral position relatively movable to transfer the controller linger along the form, a head, and mechanism rendered active upon a movement of the controller linger out of neutral position for continuously turning the head While the controller linger remains out of neutral position.

12. A controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a traveling head, a form, a controller finger engaging the form, and mechanism controlled by the controller finger to continuously change the direction of travel of the head While the controller finger is traveling along a curved contour of the form.

13. A. controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a traveling head carrying a feed Wheel, a form, a controller finger engaging the form, and mechanism controlled by the controller linger to continuously change the angular position of the feed Wheel While the controller is traveling along a curved contour of the form.

1l. il, controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a rotary drum, a roll engaging the drum, a controller linger and form relatively moalole to transfer the controller finger along the form, mechanism controlled by the controller hnger for varying the angle of the roll, a head, and mechanism actuated by relative lateral travel of the roll on the drum to turn the head.

15. A controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a rotary drum, a roll engaging the drum, means for varying then angle of the roll, mechanism actuated by lateral travel of the roll, and mechanism for causing the roll to return to initial position on the drum.

16. A controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a rotary drum, a roll engaging the drum, means for varying the angle of the roll, mechanism actuated by lateral travel of the roll, means for disconnecting' the roll from the actuated mechanism, and mechanism for causing the roll to return to initial position on the drum.

17. A controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a rotary drum, a roll engaging the drum, a controller finger and form relatively movable to transfer the finger along the form, mechanism controlled by the controller linger for varying the angle of the roll, mechanism actuated by relative lateral movement of the roll, and mechanism for causing the roll to return to its initial position on the drum. l

18. A controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a rotary drum, a roll engaging the drum, a controller linger and form relatively movable to transfer the finger along the form, mechanism controlled by the finger for varying the angle of the roll, mechanism actuated by relative lateral movement of the roll, mechanism for disconnecting the roll from the actua-ted mechanism, and mechanism for causing the roll to return to its initial position on the drum.

19. A. controlling mechanism, having, in combination, a rotary drum, a roll engaging the drum, a controller finger and form relatively movable to transfer the finger along the form, mechanism controlled by the controller linger for varying the angle of the roll, a head, mechanism for turning the head actuated by relative lateral movement of the roll, means for disconnecting the head from the actuating mechanism. and means for causing the roll to return to its initial posioperation of which is controlled by the tion OI the drun. h transversetravel of the roll.

20. contro ling mec anism having, in combination, a traveling driving); member, a ERASTUS E' WINKLEY' roll engaging the surface of the driving Witnesses: member, means for automatically Varying N. D. MGPHAIL, the angle of the roll, and mechanism the A. C. RICHARDSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the .Comnxissoner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

